Word: plo
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Increasingly, however, it is becoming clear that the September signing of the Declaration of Principles between Israel and the PLO was, in effect, little more than a handshake, and that my mother's concerns over disappointment may have been quite valid. Exaggerated by the media as a historic breakthrough between two age-old enemies, the accord achieved thus far is actually only breakthrough for the Israelis. The Palestinians have little to be happy about...
Consider, for example, that the agreement was premised on Israel receiving recognition by the PLO as a legitimate state within its pre-1967 borders. Meanwhile, Israel did not in turn recognize Palestine as a state...
Palestinians should not be compelled to forfeit our basic rights to an independent nation. Palestinian autonomy should not under any circumstances become the final stage of the agreement and the PLO should make it clear that they have not abandoned the claim to an independent state. If the PLO can obtain from Israel a guarantee that the issue of statehood will remain open to negotiation, it might perhaps lessen opposition to the accord...
Still, simply talking about second-stage negotiations in which the issue of statehood will be discussed is not enough--there must be guarantees. For if a deadlock is reached at the end of the interim period, both the PLO and Israel will be faced with very frustrated and angry Palestinians in the territories...
Moreover, if there is a deadlock in future agreements, the entire world will blame the PLO for stifling peace and no one will blame Israel for denying the Palestinians their national rights...